Questions Answered about Ski to Live
How is this event different from other ski or snowboard clinics?
Every year zillions of ski lessons occur around the world, and you can’t swing a pole without hitting a “learn to ski better” clinic run by a former pro. Most of these gatherings are focused entirely on technical skills. Ditto in other sports.
Ski To Live is not in the same category as these programs. Couldn’t be more different in fact. Apples and Planets.
Ski To Live is not just about where to plant your pole, how to finish your turn, etc. This type of instruction has its place- and the guides will provide technical tips to anyone who wants them, but past a certain point too much form / technique training keeps us stuck and can hold us back from our potential.
Most athletes admit sports are 90% mental (and the other 10% is mental too). Given that, at Ski to Live, Kristen’s draws from her experience as a professional skier (who never had a coach) and what it really took to become good at the sport, and translates that into an experience you can personally draw from. There are no lectures, your lessons will be experiences as we quickly move into accessing the mental game, and then take a huge step beyond to access and express other forms of consciousness that you may not even know exist. It’s a truly trans formative experience that also spills over in fascinating ways to your life.
Should I expect an improvement in my skiing as a result of the camp?”
Everyone who attends STL attends for different reasons. About a third of guests come specifically to improve their skiing/snowboarding through mindset training. A third come because they want to enhance their personal enjoyment of the sports and their lives through greater awareness and consciousness. The final third come to deepen the escape or freedom found in snow sports. So yes, if your wish is to improve your skiing, that will certainly happen. You will leave unstuck from your current unconscious patterns that don’t serve you anymore. Fear or other “unwanted” emotions will be replaced with freedom. You will have the opening you need to be the athlete you were meant to be.
What will I learn?
You will see clearly and easily where you are stuck. By seeing this place you are released from it. You will then learn new paths to explore, ones that this time are your choice. You’ll learn true freedom and creativity and experience the power of what’s possible from such a conscious place.
How is this be the only clinic of it’s kind in the world?
Attend a clinic and you’ll know the answer to this question (wink).
What is the average class size per instructor?
We all ride the lifts together and share Kristen, but when we actually ski you’ll be with like ability groups of no more than 7 per instructor. The average being 4-5 per instructor.
Am I a good enough skier/snowboarder to attend?
There are usually three levels of skier or boarder in attendance. If you have some confidence on groomed runs you’ll have a place. There is also a middle ability, all mountain group that likes to take things carefully. Read below for info on the fastest group.
Am I TOO good an athlete to attend?
These clinics are open to professional athletes and several big name skiers have attended. These clinics were, actually, built for elite athletes such as yourself. The level of the highest group is always all mountain, fast and super strong.
Also consider coming to Alaska- which is for experts only.
I’m a snowboarder.
For 2012 many of the clinics will be held at Alta, which doesn’t allow snowboarding. For 2013 Kristen has no plans to host camps outside of Alta, with the possible exception of Jackson Hole or Sun Valley. Please keep watching this site and see if that occurs. The other option for boarders is to hire Kristen privately.
I’m a shy person, will I feel awkward at this event?
No, Ski To Live is not therapy. You will not have to share anything about your life.
I’m religious, will I feel awkward at this event?
Ski to Live is designed to honor your tradition, whatever it may be. Ski to Live offers no philosophy- it is merely a journey into your unconscious mind to see where you may be stuck.
I’m worried this is a new age program.
This is not a new age program. Kristen takes huge steps to avoid that kind of presentation. Ski To Live is based on ancient wisdom traditions and the evolution of that wisdom. We don’t sing Kumbaya, we much prefer dirty jokes.
How much actual skiing and snowboarding will we do?
Your option is two-fold: to ski whole days- first lift to last- should you desire, with coaching from both Kristen and the guides. Or you can start your day at 10:30 to save your legs, and not miss much. See the itinerary below.
What about lodging?
For the Alta camps we recommend The Goldminers Daughter. Many people from the camp stay there and eat their meals together. Ask for Jonathan and mention Ski to Live for a discount. Or feel free to commute daily from Salt Lake or Park City- lots of people do, including Kristen.
What about lift tickets?
Lift tickets are not included at the camp price. Alta ticket prices are very reasonable though. You would need a two day pass for both Saturday and Sunday.
What is the Itinerary and when should I fly in?
We start around 5 pm the first evening of your camp and end around 6 pm on the last day. Make sure you arrive at the airport giving yourself enough time to make that first important night. Here’s a typical itinerary but the finalized times/details are subject to change and will be sent to you 1-2 weeks prior to your camp:
Friday: 4:45-7:30pm meet for the first time to set the tone for the event- very important first gathering. Light snacks provided. Gift bags too!
Saturday and Sunday:
9:15am-10:30 ski in like groups with guides
10:30-4:00 ski as a whole group with Kristen where she will utilize Big Mind. We will all ride the lifts together but you ski with your guide on terrain suitable for your ability. Break for lunch at some point.
4:30pm-5:45 evening sessions with light snacks provided: more exploration, Q and A.
6:00- 7:30 apres ski fun.
Please contact Kristen directly for the Alaska itinerary. Note Alaska is not a Big Mind ski camp, it is Kristen’s vacation, although you’re welcome to join her. Expert skiers and boarders only please.
Any camp can be made all inclusive. Write Kristen for details.
I’m confused about the length of the program -help?
Prior to 2010 STL had always been a 4 night, 3 day camp. Then, 2010 was a transitional year where we experimented with different itineraries. This season (2012) the Alta camps are a 3 evening (Friday- Sunday), 2 day (Saturday and Sunday) camp. There is also the option to return for a second event to go even deeper into the experience. No two camps re even remotely alike.
I’m injured, what are my options?
If you’re slightly injured- you may modify your inclusion in the sport –ski with a slower group for example– or ski a shorter day. If your injury is more serious, you can sit out the sport and attended the evening sessions only, which are amazing.
Can someone traveling with me who isn’t skiing or boarding attend the evening sessions?
Yes, absolutely. This is encouraged and they are really cool. Email Kristen for details.
I can’t afford a clinic, what do you recommend?
We make these clinics available to everyone who would like to attend, no matter what. Several alumni make sure this option stays open. Write if you would like a scholarship and we can accommodate.
Do you run women’s-only programs?
No. Unless it’s a requested private-hire, Kristen offers unisex clinics only.
Can I bring my child?
Kids age 12 and up are welcome to attend. Although Kristen has been known to allow mature younger kids in with adult supervision.
How did Kristen come up with the idea for Ski To Live?
It’s a common question, as Kristen does have a hard-core, cliff-jumping, Red-Bull-sponsored, X Games-genre background. She sold the wild side of snow sports for over 15 years, so deciding to run a Zen-Sport event seems a severing of the past; a 180 degree turnaround.
In 2002, Kristen was disgusted with being a professional skier, and even began to loathe the sport in general. After devoting her entire adult life to skiing and other sports, and ‘Living to Ski,’ she wondered what had she learned- except maybe hedonism and ego gratification?
One day she threw an idea for an event against the wall- combining mindset with the sports of skiing and snowboarding. The idea came because it was the clinic she personally wanted to attend. Kristen did want the event to break all norms and boundaries-, which was how her career and personality ran, ”But funny thing is, I don’t remember making the decision to start Ski To Live, it’s almost as if it picked me. Like a virus choosing a host.”
Initially, that first spring in 2003, Ski To Live was a psychological program. It was interesting, but didn’t hit her vision. Then she met world famous Zen Master Genpo Roshi Christmas of 2003 and turned a huge corner. “That second clinic, January of 2004, blew my mind. I learned more about how skiing affected my life in the first hour with Genpo Roshi than I did 15 years as a pro.” This was no small thing. “I looked around that first night and saw everyone with eyes closed, beaming, some moved to tears and getting ‘it’ in ways I had only dreamed about, and though wow, this is what skiing and life was supposed to inspire. And we still had three days to go.”
After having partnered and trained with Genpo Roshi for 8 years now, Ski To Live- which is a play on the words Live To Ski- wasn’t a turn-around from her athletic career so much as it was a radical evolution of her own perspective and consciousness. It also sent her on a path to becoming the Wisdom coach she is today.
“I hadn’t realized that Ski To Live would draw some of the most brilliant, sentient people I’ve ever met. We all, one way or another, are devoted to accessing and therefore raising the level of consciousness on the planet. These clinics- attending them as well as facilitating them- have changed my life in so many indescribable ways. It seems obvious now, they’re the reason why I became a professional skier in the first place.”